This story has been updated to reflect funeral information for Bill Freeman.
Bill Freeman, one of Nashville’s most prolific property developers, a one-time mayoral contender and a leading Democratic Party fundraiser, died Sunday. He was 73.
Metro Police officials said they were called to his home Sunday night and they found Freeman dead in an apparent suicide.
Freeman, well-known across the region as a business leader, a political player and 2015 Nashville mayoral candidate, was a compassionate community leader.
Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Nashville, praised his father in a statement on Monday, saying despite his many business successes, family came first.
“Fearless in sharing his opinions on the issues that mattered most, he worked tirelessly to improve the lives of those around him and to leave a lasting impact on our shared future,” Bob Freeman wrote. “As much as he valued his career and accomplishments, his family always came first. Especially my mom, Babs.”
Bill Freeman met his wife Babs, short for Barbara, during elementary school in Donelson, Tenn.
“Their bond was a testament to the love and dedication that defined everything he did. He instilled in me and my brothers, Harvey and Mike, the values of being loving husbands and devoted fathers, and we carry those lessons with us today. His legacy of dedication and commitment will live on in the countless lives he touched.”
Freeman co-founded Freeman Webb Co. in 1979 with Jimmy Webb after the two met at Nashville’s Junior Chamber of Commerce. The multifamily real estate investment and management firm has over 18,000 rental homes and apartments across Tennessee, Missouri, Mississippi, Kentucky and Alabama. More than 9,000 of those rental units are in the Nashville area.
Freeman Webb is known for accepting low-income Section 8 subsidized federal housing vouchers, which many landlords avoid. Freeman’s son, Bob Freeman, told The Tennessean earlier this year that the company rents “to the people who keep Nashville running.”
Freeman also owned the alt-weekly Nashville Scene and business-focused Nashville Post publications via FW Publishing, which he cofounded.
“Tonight, we lost Bill Freeman,” Mayor Freddie O’Connell wrote Sunday night on X. “Bill was many things — real estate visionary, mayoral candidate, pilot, media magnate, staunch Democrat — and friend. Our city, state, and nation are better for his tenacity and commitment. We will miss him dearly, and my heart is with his family.”
Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore also shared his grief at the loss of his friend.
“Yesterday, Nashville lost one of its kindest and most dedicated champions,” Gore said in a statement to The Tennessean. “Bill Freeman was a giant in our city, known as much for his role in helping Nashville grow as he was for his commitment to ensuring that all of its residents could thrive. Bill always sought out new ideas and knowledge in his pursuit of a better future for his community — one of the traits that made him such an important leader in our local media landscape. I was lucky enough to see that curiosity firsthand when he and his son Bob joined me on a trip to Antarctica to better understand the impacts of the climate crisis. He will be sorely missed. My heart goes out to his beloved wife Babs and his sons, Harvey, Mike, and State Rep. Bob Freeman.”
Metro police spokesperson Don Aaron said officers were called to Freeman’s home Sunday night, where he was found dead.
“The Police Department responded to a 911 call concerning a shooting at 7:46 p.m. Sunday,” Aaron said. “Mr. Freeman was found deceased. His death is being investigated as a suicide.”
Freeman, a pilot, served on the Metro Nashville Airport Authority Board for eight years under three mayors before he stepped down in March. In 2023, he retired from running Freeman Webb and his son, Bob Freeman, a state representative, took over.
When he retired, Freeman said he was “excited at the prospect of traveling more and enjoying our grandchildren as they grow” with his wife Babs.
Prior to co-founding Freeman Webb, Freeman served as the director of Downtown Urban Development for the Metropolitan Nashville Development and Housing Agency (MDHA).
His community service includes participating in the boards of the Nashville Davidson County Mental Health and Veterans Assistance Foundation, Kennedy Center Advisory Committee on the Arts appointed by former President Barack Obama and the Tennessee State University Board of Trustees appointed by former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam. In 2022, he was appointed to the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board by President Joe Biden.
Former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, who Freeman lost to in the 2015 Metro election, wrote on X that he was “an incredible force for good in our city and for Democrats at the national, state, and local levels.”
“His commitment to help others ran deep and was evident in his love for his family and his willingness to step up and serve Nashville,” Barry said. “I had the honor of appointing him to the Airport Authority, where he was able to combine his passion for flying and his desire to see Nashville grow and thrive. Bill passed along his heart for service to his entire family, especially his son, State Rep. Bob Freeman, and he will be greatly missed by all who knew him.”
On his time overseeing Nashville International Airport’s management, he said: “I recall the days when Nashville’s airport was considered an efficient but small airport in a mid-sized, Southern city. Since its first days as Berry Field to its growth in the 1980s and to its major expansion goals today, the Nashville International Airport has become a record-breaking, major hub in our country’s air transportation system.”
Freeman is survived by his wife, Babs Tinsley Freeman, and three sons Harvey, Mike and Bob Freeman.
The Tennessee Democratic Party called Freeman “a beacon of kindness, wisdom and a stalwart community leader” in a statement on X.
On Monday, Davidson County Register of Deeds Karen Johnson shared that few have had the impact on Nashville that Freeman had, describing him as a smart, well-grounded businessman and a “giant” among civic-minded leaders.
“I called on Bill for his counsel many times, but more than anything, I valued his friendship.” she said in a statement. “Prayers go tonight to Babs, to Rep. Bob Freeman, and all of Bill’s loved ones. This loss leaves a terrible void.”
Freeman’s funeral will be held at Hermitage Memorial Gardens at 11 a.m. Friday. This is a private family service. A celebration of life will be held at a later date to be announced.
Molly Davis contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Bill Freeman, Nashville real estate investor, Democratic donor, dies